Stuffed Derivatives of Close-Packed StructuresBodie E. DouglasExamines a variety of stuffed silica crystal structures in terms of the close-packing of one set of atoms or ions (P sites) with other atoms or ions in tetrahedral (T) or octahedral (O) sites and filled or partially filled layers in the regular pattern, PTOT.Douglas, Bodie E. J. Chem. Educ.2007, 84, 1846.

Crystals / Crystallography |

Group Theory / Symmetry |

Materials Science |

Metals |

Solid State Chemistry |

Solids

Filling in the Hexagonal Close-Packed Unit CellRobert C. Rittenhouse, Linda M. Soper, and Jeffrey L. RittenhouseThe illustrations of the hcp unit cell that are used in textbooks at all levels and also in crystallography and solid-state reference works are incomplete, in that they fail to include fractions of middle layer atomic spheres with centers lying outside of the unit cell.Rittenhouse, Robert C.; Soper, Linda M.; Rittenhouse, Jeffrey L. J. Chem. Educ.2006, 83, 175.

Crystals / Crystallography |

Metals |

Solids

Rotational Mobility in a Crystal Studied by Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy. An Experiment for the Physical Chemistry LaboratoryMadalena S. C. Dionísio, Hermínio P. Diogo, J. P. S. Farinha, and Joaquim J. Moura-RamosIn this article we present a laboratory experiment for an undergraduate physical chemistry course. The purpose of this experiment is the study of molecular mobility in a crystal using the technique of dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. The experiment illustrates important physical chemistry concepts. The background of the experimental technique deals with the concepts of orientational and induced polarization and frequency-dependent relative permittivity (or dielectric constant). The kinetic concepts of temperature-dependent relaxation time, activation energy, and activation entropy are involved in the concept of molecular mobility. Dionísio, Madalena S. C.; Diogo, Hermínio P.; Farinha, J. P. S.; Moura-Ramos, Joaquim J. J. Chem. Educ.2005, 82, 1355.

Kinetics |

Phases / Phase Transitions / Diagrams |

Solids |

Crystals / Crystallography

The Pythagorean Theorem and the Solid StateBrenda S. Kelly and Allen G. SplittgerberSolid-state parameters such as radius ratios, packing efficiencies, and crystal densities may be calculated for various crystal structures from basic Euclidean geometry relating to the Pythagorean theorem of right triangles. Because simpler cases are often discussed in the standard inorganic chemistry texts, this article only presents calculations for closest-packed A-type lattices (one type of particle) and several compound AB lattices (A and B particles) including sodium chloride, cesium chloride, zinc blende (sphalerite), wurtzite, and fluorite. Kelly, Brenda S.; Splittgerber, Allen G. J. Chem. Educ.2005, 82, 756.

Melting Point and Molecular SymmetryR. J. C. Brown and R. F. C. BrownIn 1882 Thomas Carnelley observed that high molecular symmetry is associated with high melting point. The application of the rule to a number of different molecular crystals is discussed. The rule applies to different categories of crystal for different reasons, which can be explained by thermodynamic analysis.Brown, R. J. C.; Brown, R. F. C. J. Chem. Educ.2000, 77, 724.

Liquids |

Molecular Properties / Structure |

Phases / Phase Transitions / Diagrams |

Solids |

Thermodynamics |

Physical Properties |

Aromatic Compounds |

Crystals / Crystallography

Undergraduate Lectures on Infrared Spectroscopy in the Solid StateE. A. SeccoThis experimental exercise exposes students to the reduction in symmetry for a polyatomic species such as NO3- or SO42- in a crystalline lattice. The experiment illustrates how splitting of degenerate modes occurs and how infrared inactive modes become active. Secco, E. A. J. Chem. Educ.1999, 76, 373.

Solid state labs: The bubble raftMcCormick, P. D.Method for producing bubble rafts and experiments for using them to demonstrate the properties of crystals.McCormick, P. D. J. Chem. Educ.1975, 52, 521.

Solids |

Solid State Chemistry |

Crystals / Crystallography

Unit cellsOlsen, Robert C.; Tobiason, Fred L.An easy way to construct of have students construct a unit cell in three dimensions.Olsen, Robert C.; Tobiason, Fred L. J. Chem. Educ.1975, 52, 509.

Madelung constants and other lattice sumsBurrows, E. L.; Kettle, S. F. A.Makes more widely known that fact that in the evaluation of lattice sums one is faced with a fundamental difficulty the solution to which is seldom stated.Burrows, E. L.; Kettle, S. F. A. J. Chem. Educ.1975, 52, 58.

Structures of the elements in the PTOT systemHo, Shih-Ming; Douglas, Bodie E.Presents a simplified system for representing close-packed structures and applies it to crystalline structures of the elements.Ho, Shih-Ming; Douglas, Bodie E. J. Chem. Educ.1972, 49, 74.

Sealed tube experimentsCampbell, J. A.Lists and briefly describes a large set of "sealed tube experiments," each of which requires less than five minutes to set-up and clean-up, requires less than five minutes to run, provides dramatic results observable by a large class, and illustrates important chemical concepts.Campbell, J. A. J. Chem. Educ.1970, 47, 273.

Thermodynamics |

Crystals / Crystallography |

Solids |

Liquids |

Gases |

Rate Law |

Equilibrium

One hundred and fifty years of isomorphismMorrow, Scott I.This article reviews the history of isomorphism and the discovery that crystals of the same compounds exhibit small differences in their corresponding interfacial angles.Morrow, Scott I. J. Chem. Educ.1969, 46, 580.

Crystal modelsOlsen, Robert C.This short note illustrates a model designed to demonstrate the number of particles in a crystal that can be assigned to a unit cell.Olsen, Robert C. J. Chem. Educ.1967, 44, 728.

Crystals / Crystallography |

Molecular Modeling |

Solids |

Metals |

Metallic Bonding

The teaching of crystal geometry in the introductory courseLivingston, R. L.It is the purpose of this paper to outline an approach to the teaching of crystal structure at the elementary level that will prepare the student for more advanced work in this field or that could be used as the beginning in a more advanced course.Livingston, R. L. J. Chem. Educ.1967, 44, 376.

Chemical geometryApplication to saltsGibb, Thomas R. P., Jr.; Winnerman, AnneIt is the purpose of this article to illustrate how one may delve rather deeply into some aspects of crystal structure that are of special interest chemically without becoming involved in the symbology and semantic complexities of conventional crystallography.Gibb, Thomas R. P., Jr.; Winnerman, Anne J. Chem. Educ.1958, 35, 578.

Face-centered cube and cubical close-packingBarnett, E. De BarryInstructions for the construction of simple models designed to illustrate the face-centered cube and cubical close-packing.Barnett, E. De Barry J. Chem. Educ.1958, 35, 186.

A new type of crystal modelWestbrook, J. H.; DeVries, R. C.Describes the design and construction of a crystal model in which the positions of atoms are represented by colored lights that can be lit to illustrate various structures.Westbrook, J. H.; DeVries, R. C. J. Chem. Educ.1957, 34, 220.

Crystals / Crystallography |

Solids |

Molecular Modeling

Some simple solid modelsCampbell, J. A.Describes the use of hard spheres to illustrate a variety of concepts with respect solids, including closest packing and the effects of temperature and alloying.Campbell, J. A. J. Chem. Educ.1957, 34, 210.

Solids |

Crystals / Crystallography |

Molecular Modeling

Letters to the editorLefever, Robert A.Clarifies a photograph in an earlier article and points out the identification of the growth axis in a silicon crystal.Lefever, Robert A. J. Chem. Educ.1957, 34, 101.

Textbook errors: X. The classification of crystalsMysels, Karol J.The classification of crystals into several systems (e.g., cubic, tetragonal, orthorombic) is generally based in textbooks on a consideration of crystal axes, particularly their relative lengths and direction; this approach usually gives correct assignments but occasionally leads to an error.Mysels, Karol J. J. Chem. Educ.1957, 34, 40.

Crystals / Crystallography |

Solids

Growing crystals: A survey of laboratory methodsFehlner, Francis P.The purpose of this article is to provide basic information and readily available references for anyone wishing to begin the production of crystals.Fehlner, Francis P. J. Chem. Educ.1956, 33, 449.